The Chiang-Shih

Origins of The Chaing-Shih

The chiang-shih is the Chinese version of the vampire. In
Chinese belief, each person has two souls, a superior or
rational soul and an inferior irrational soul. The superior
soul could leave a sleeping body and appear as the body’s
double as it roamed about. It could also possess and speak
through the body of another. However, if something would
happen to the disembodied soul during its journey, its body
would suffer.

The inferior soul, on the other hand, was called p’ai or
p’o and was that which inhabited the body of a fetus during
pregnancy and often lingered in the bodies of the dead. It
was thought to preserve the corpse. If the p’ai was strong
enough, it could preserve and inhabit a corpse for a length
of time, using the body to serve its needs. The body
animated by the p’ai was called a chiang-shih.

Usually chiang-shih were created after a particularly
violent death, such as a suicide, hanging, drowning, or
smothering. It could also be a result of an improper burial,
as it was thought that the dead would become restless if
their burial was postponed after their death. The chiang-shih
were not known to rise from the grave, so their
transformation had to take place prior to burial.

Characteristics of Chiang-shihs

Chiang-shihs were nocturnal creatures and had
difficulties crossing running water. It was said that they
were particularly vicious and ripped the head or limbs off
their victims. They were also said to have a strong sexual
drive which led them to attack and rape women. The
Chiang-Shih are blind, they rely on their ability to sense
the breath of their prey to track them. Traditionally the
Chiang-Shih were believed to suck the breath (chi, ki, or
internal energy whatever you will call it) out of their
victims, in more modern movies they are just as likely to
suck their blood of their victims. They are also said to hop
when they move either because of rigor mortis or of the
traditional garments of the Chinese funeral. When The Chaing-Shih
would reach it's most powerful form where they had white
hair covering their entire body, chiang-shihs would gain the
ability to fly, and possibly change into animals.

Protecting Oneself from Chiang-shihs

People protected themselves from chiang-shih by using
garlic or salt. They were also driven away with loud noises,
and it was thought that thunder could kill them. Brooms were
used to sweep the creature back to its resting spot, while
iron filings, rice, and red peas were used as barriers. If a
chiang-shih reached its flying, white-haired stage, it could
only be killed by a bullet or thunder. Its body must then be
cremated.